The Biden administration said on Monday it was tightening restrictions on asylum at the southern border in an effort to show voters concerned about immigration that it is taking a tough stance on border security, US media reported.
The new rules tightening restrictions, announced in June, prohibit asylum for migrants if US authorities believe the southern border is congested.
Under previous rules, the US could restrict access to asylum if the number of migrants trying to enter the country between official border crossings exceeded 2,500 per day. To lift the restrictions, the daily number of migrants had to be below 1,500 per day for a week.
But the version released on Monday says daily numbers must be below 1,500 for nearly a month before the restrictions are lifted. In addition, the administration now counts all children, whereas previously only children of migrants from Mexico were counted.
These changes will make it much harder to lift the restrictions and allow people who enter the country between official border crossings to end up seeking asylum in the US. The new restrictions go into effect on Tuesday.
The June order reduced the migration figures
Biden issued an executive order in June that temporarily “closed” the US-Mexico border to illegal immigrants, removing their right to asylum. The new rule effectively halted the processing of asylum claims between official border entry points. After that, the number of illegal border crossings dropped to its lowest level in years. The northern border has begun to record an increase in the number of immigrants.
Statistics in recent months show that with this drop in immigration, the southern border should open soon, as the new rule says. But Biden doesn’t want to do that before the election, because most voters are in favour of reducing immigration.
Immigration has become a major political headache for the Biden administration and Democrats. From 2021 to 2023, the number of immigrants at the southern border grew to record levels. But polls have shown growing support among Americans for stricter immigration policies, even the mass deportations promised by Donald Trump.
In recent months, Democrats, led by Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, have shown tougher immigration measures, although in 2021, Democrats have promised to expand access to the US asylum system. Tougher immigration policies have been criticised from both sides.
